Holi Is The Best Time To Teach Kids Colours

What is Holi? Why do we celebrate it? What do we get to do? I am sure all the teachers and mothers find these questions coming their way at the onset of Holi festivities. We end up struggling to figure out how to give our children a deeper understanding of our culture and heritage without overwhelming them. This time around, let’s use the festival as a tool to teach kids colors. Toddlers and preschoolers have so much to gain out of this. 

February and March in India is all about a dash of colours in our foods, massive colour burst in our lawns and gardens, and then Holi. 

It is said that “Color is the food for the soul and the brain,” so this could well become a stepping stone in opening up your little one’s horizon and exposing him to a myriad of colors in a fun way Take them gulaal and color shopping along with you, let them be curious and fascinated. They are bound to ask questions and there comes your opportunity to have fun with colors and make it fun for your kids too.  

Here are some easy steps, to teach kids’ colors:

1. Start with What Amuses the Child the Most

If his favorite thing in the world, for now, is a sipper that happens to be red then let’s start with everything “red” in his life. Point at everything red around him, and continue to do so till he has started saying it too. Closer to Holi, smear some red on his forehead. Tell him, that’s how red feels!

Next step: Introduce another color. Might as well give it a try 2 or 3 days after Holi. Label all things blue (another primary color). Breaking down colors one by one is much easier than learning the whole crayon box at one time. Mum’s nail polish is blue and so is the second color on their hand. So, now it’s blue and red!

2. Compare identical objects of different colors

The distinction between colors is clearer when one compares the same object in different colors. For example, compare a red ball and a yellow ball, rather than a blue nail polish and a red sipper! Use blocks for the same. It’s time for some yellow! A toddler likes to experience his/her world through touch, sound and play.

Next step: And soon after, on the day of Holi, apply a small dot of yellow (organic Holi color please!) on your cheek and ask your little one to rub it with his tiny fingers. They are going to probably enjoy the experience.

3. Take them color shopping

Let them stay curious and fascinated. They are bound to ask questions and there comes your opportunity to encourage this curiosity. Have fun with colors and make it fun for your kid too.  

4. Play with colors

On the day of Holi, under your supervision, place all three colors (blue, red, and yellow) in front of your smart toddler. Ask him to point at them by calling out one after the other. Have fun playing with him. Let them get their hands dirty. Older kids can make some rangoli (creative design) with it. When the toddler sees all this, he/she will get even more excited and interested in colors.

To keep the art of teaching colors alive, try these kids’ activities to sustain the momentum.

2 Children activities to teach kids the concept of colors:

1. Visit a flower exhibition or spring festival

The point at different colors surrounding you. The grass is green, the sky is blue, etc. I am, not sure if handing out M&Ms should be the best idea. If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.

2. Coloring sheets

Children are born creators. You’d be surprised at their ability to cherry-pick colors. Let them choose crayons of interest and label that choice with the color name while they hold, feel, and smell the crayon touch the page.

Happy Holi, everyone. Let the colors make your child’s life more colorful. 

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